Published: Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 4, 2014 at 6:51 p.m.

Major Kurt Hoffman, a member of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office command
staff

Facts

FBI ACADEMY:

Another accolade for officer with broad background

Hoffman, a member of Sarasota County Sheriff's command staff, brought the colored slabs back from the 255th FBI National Academy, held in Virginia earlier this year. They're trophies that memorialize two physical challenges he conquered, a grueling 6.1-mile obstacle course and a 34-mile swim done in increments.

One of only seven Florida law enforcement officers invited to the academy, Hoffman also earned a graduate-level Certificate in Leadership from the University of Virginia during the 10-week program.

For many law enforcement officers, graduating from the FBI's academy would be a crowning achievement. But for Hoffman, it's just the latest in a 25-year string of educational and professional accolades.

Currently working as both the general counsel and administrative division commander for the Sheriff's Office, Hoffman, 48, has also worked as a state prosecutor and a deputy.

It's a rare employment history, Sheriff Tom Knight said, but invaluable for Hoffman's duties. Hoffman and his assistant review and handle all the agency's legal affairs.

"Major Hoffman's experience working not only the enforcement but also the prosecution side of the criminal justice system gives him a unique perspective," Knight said. "That, coupled with his intellect and work ethic, makes him a significant asset to our agency as well as the citizens of Sarasota County."

Hoffman's FBI academy graduation joins an impressive list of other certifications, together with courses held by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Hoffman, who arrived back in Southwest Florida from the academy on June 23, said he's willing to rest on his laurels -- briefly, or at least until he plows through the healthy stack of paperwork that accumulated in his absence.

But it's likely Hoffman won't rest for long. He's already made a front runner bid for sheriff once, losing in Charlotte County in 2004 by only two percent of the vote.

He doesn't rule out running again for the job, either.

"I think all of us desire to get to a position where we have a challenge," said Hoffman, a trim man with short black hair and a mustache to match. "If a challenge such as that came up, I'd probably have to consider that."

The son, nephew and brother of law enforcement officers, Hoffman began his career as a Charlotte County Sheriff's reserve deputy in 1989.

At 23, and married, Hoffman aspired to a more challenging law enforcement job. He knew, though, that to do so he'd have to finish earning the college education he had been slow to complete.

"You get focused when you get a little bit more mature," he said. "When you get older and realize what's important, that education is important and it can open doors for you."

He worked the night shift so he could attend Saint Leo University during the day, in time earning a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. An enormous accomplishment at the time, in retrospect it was little more than a good start.

After seven years at the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Hoffman took a leave of absence in 1995 to get his law degree. While his wife and two-year-old son remained in Englewood, Hoffman moved to Fort Lauderdale to attend Nova Southeastern University.

"I thought I had the wherewithal to be a prosecutor," he said. "I knew the cases inside and out from being a deputy on the street."

Hoffman graduated in 1997, after completing an internship with the State Attorney's Office for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Less than two years later, he was working as a state prosecutor and supervisor for the office.

As his responsibilities grew, so did his education. He returned to college in 2000, earning a Master's degree in criminal justice from International College (now known as Hodges University). He went on to teach criminal justice courses at the school.

In 2005, Hoffman left the State Attorney's Office for his current job at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Though he was hired as a civilian employee, Hoffman soon found himself sworn in, albeit without rank, because he was still certified as a Florida law enforcement officer.

"At the time there were only probably three or four of us in the state who were sworn law enforcement and general counsel," he said. "Now it's a bit more prevalent, you probably have six or eight around the state."

Hoffman was promoted to captain by 2006, became a major in 2008 and was subsequently named the Sheriff's Office administrative division commander. Six years later, Hoffman still holds both titles.

The command positions each carry a hefty amount of responsibility. These days, almost everything with legal implications for the department crosses Hoffman's desk. The agency's annual budget, of more than $90 million, also falls under Hoffman's purview.

Employment issues, forfeitures of felons' property and inmate litigation are routine. But Hoffman said he still manages to employ his hands-on experience as a deputy, along with his education.

"There's not a day that goes by where there isn't a legal issue or legal question that comes up that needs to be answered," he said. "It helps that we have worked in that same legal environment that we're working in today."

Hoffman faced one of his greatest tests of brain -- and brawn -- at the FBI academy. At the U.S. Marine Corps' Quantico, Virginia, base, he completed both the Yellow Brick Road obstacle and fitness course and the swimming challenge that covers the distance in the Potomac River from Quantico, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., over the course of the program. The latter earned him the blue brick.

In addition to completing four days of rigorous physical conditioning weekly, Hoffman also maintained a perfect grade point average in two undergraduate and four graduate-level classes during the 10-week program.

"Every day I come to work I think about 'How is the command staff of this agency serving our folks in the field who are out there doing the work?'" he said. "Let's face it, I'm sitting behind a desk right now, and for the most part my dangerous days of law enforcement are probably over, and those guys and gals out there are risking their lives."

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Two bricks, one yellow and the other blue, adorn a shelf in Major Kurt Hoffman's office.</p><p>Hoffman, a member of Sarasota County Sheriff's command staff, brought the colored slabs back from the 255th FBI National Academy, held in Virginia earlier this year. They're trophies that memorialize two physical challenges he conquered, a grueling 6.1-mile obstacle course and a 34-mile swim done in increments.</p><p>One of only seven Florida law enforcement officers invited to the academy, Hoffman also earned a graduate-level Certificate in Leadership from the University of Virginia during the 10-week program.</p><p>For many law enforcement officers, graduating from the FBI's academy would be a crowning achievement. But for Hoffman, it's just the latest in a 25-year string of educational and professional accolades.</p><p>Currently working as both the general counsel and administrative division commander for the Sheriff's Office, Hoffman, 48, has also worked as a state prosecutor and a deputy.</p><p>It's a rare employment history, Sheriff Tom Knight said, but invaluable for Hoffman's duties. Hoffman and his assistant review and handle all the agency's legal affairs.</p><p>"Major Hoffman's experience working not only the enforcement but also the prosecution side of the criminal justice system gives him a unique perspective," Knight said. "That, coupled with his intellect and work ethic, makes him a significant asset to our agency as well as the citizens of Sarasota County."</p><p>Hoffman's FBI academy graduation joins an impressive list of other certifications, together with courses held by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.</p><p>Hoffman, who arrived back in Southwest Florida from the academy on June 23, said he's willing to rest on his laurels -- briefly, or at least until he plows through the healthy stack of paperwork that accumulated in his absence.</p><p>But it's likely Hoffman won't rest for long. He's already made a front runner bid for sheriff once, losing in Charlotte County in 2004 by only two percent of the vote.</p><p>He doesn't rule out running again for the job, either.</p><p>"I think all of us desire to get to a position where we have a challenge," said Hoffman, a trim man with short black hair and a mustache to match. "If a challenge such as that came up, I'd probably have to consider that."</p><p>The son, nephew and brother of law enforcement officers, Hoffman began his career as a Charlotte County Sheriff's reserve deputy in 1989.</p><p>At 23, and married, Hoffman aspired to a more challenging law enforcement job. He knew, though, that to do so he'd have to finish earning the college education he had been slow to complete.</p><p>"You get focused when you get a little bit more mature," he said. "When you get older and realize what's important, that education is important and it can open doors for you."</p><p>He worked the night shift so he could attend Saint Leo University during the day, in time earning a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. An enormous accomplishment at the time, in retrospect it was little more than a good start.</p><p>After seven years at the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Hoffman took a leave of absence in 1995 to get his law degree. While his wife and two-year-old son remained in Englewood, Hoffman moved to Fort Lauderdale to attend Nova Southeastern University.</p><p>"I thought I had the wherewithal to be a prosecutor," he said. "I knew the cases inside and out from being a deputy on the street."</p><p>Hoffman graduated in 1997, after completing an internship with the State Attorney's Office for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Less than two years later, he was working as a state prosecutor and supervisor for the office.</p><p>As his responsibilities grew, so did his education. He returned to college in 2000, earning a Master's degree in criminal justice from International College (now known as Hodges University). He went on to teach criminal justice courses at the school.</p><p>In 2005, Hoffman left the State Attorney's Office for his current job at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Though he was hired as a civilian employee, Hoffman soon found himself sworn in, albeit without rank, because he was still certified as a Florida law enforcement officer.</p><p>"At the time there were only probably three or four of us in the state who were sworn law enforcement and general counsel," he said. "Now it's a bit more prevalent, you probably have six or eight around the state."</p><p>Hoffman was promoted to captain by 2006, became a major in 2008 and was subsequently named the Sheriff's Office administrative division commander. Six years later, Hoffman still holds both titles.</p><p>The command positions each carry a hefty amount of responsibility. These days, almost everything with legal implications for the department crosses Hoffman's desk. The agency's annual budget, of more than $90 million, also falls under Hoffman's purview.</p><p>Employment issues, forfeitures of felons' property and inmate litigation are routine. But Hoffman said he still manages to employ his hands-on experience as a deputy, along with his education.</p><p>"There's not a day that goes by where there isn't a legal issue or legal question that comes up that needs to be answered," he said. "It helps that we have worked in that same legal environment that we're working in today."</p><p>Hoffman faced one of his greatest tests of brain -- and brawn -- at the FBI academy. At the U.S. Marine Corps' Quantico, Virginia, base, he completed both the Yellow Brick Road obstacle and fitness course and the swimming challenge that covers the distance in the Potomac River from Quantico, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., over the course of the program. The latter earned him the blue brick.</p><p>In addition to completing four days of rigorous physical conditioning weekly, Hoffman also maintained a perfect grade point average in two undergraduate and four graduate-level classes during the 10-week program.</p><p>"Every day I come to work I think about 'How is the command staff of this agency serving our folks in the field who are out there doing the work?'" he said. "Let's face it, I'm sitting behind a desk right now, and for the most part my dangerous days of law enforcement are probably over, and those guys and gals out there are risking their lives."</p>